Mysterious Reviews

Tuesday's Gone

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French. The murder mystery in this crime novel, while quite compelling and of considerable interest, is actually a relatively minor plot point in this book, which seems to be a continuation of the first in the series. The situation is really quite unfortunate as (a) the storyline, brief as it is here, is well-structured and absolutely riveting; and (b) the characters are so well drawn that, like them or not, they are about as real and multi-dimensional as characters get in modern crime fiction. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Follow Her Home

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Follow Her Home by Steph Cha. This murder mystery is written more along the lines of a teen novel than an adult one, with the lead character being more Nancy Drew than the Philip Marlowe she considers herself to be. The storyline is straight-forward enough, but is intercut with a backstory that is more intrusive than constructive and just doesn't work here. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Six Years

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Six Years by Harlan Coben. This is a nearly flawless thriller … at least for its first half. The premise is riveting, the pacing perfect. But it stalls about mid-point when the reader gets too far ahead of the lead character, knowing — or at least strongly suspecting — what he will ultimately find out. Still, this is a solidly plotted novel, and, despite a few issues, an enjoyable one. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

His Majesty's Hope

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal. The fictional story of this mystery is seamlessly integrated into historical fact, anchored throughout by the clever and resourceful — and just a little larger than life — Maggie Hope. There is a nice balance of action and drama in a narrative that moves the exciting plot forward at a brisk pace. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

The Night Detectives

Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of The Night Detectives by Jon Talton. This murder mystery divides its time between Phoenix and San Diego, and is centered on a case in which a series of deaths have newly licensed PIs David Mapstone and Mike Peralta puzzled. There are plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers asking, "What next?" … and with a fast-paced narrative and a good mix of action and intrigue, it doesn't take long to find out. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Messenger

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Messenger by Craig Johnson. The primary purpose of short stories such as this is to introduce potential readers to the series. To that end, the present tale achieves its goal rather admirably. Within just a few pages, one gets a sense of who these characters are, and almost as importantly from a series perspective, how they interact with each other. As a bonus, the story itself is both whimsical and mystical, a rare combination of narrative elements that works exceptionally well. Our rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Good People

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Good People by Ewart Hutton. There is much to like about this debut crime novel, which is centered on a complicated case, the artfully crafted layers of which make for a very compelling story … though it ends on a somewhat abrupt, melodramatic note. Still and all, this is a solid start to a promising series featuring a strong lead character. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Pale Horses

Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Pale Horses by Jassy Mackenzie. This is a strong, intricately plotted, and really quite good crime novel, with information and clues that hint at relationships and links but not enough to definitely draw a line from one point to another. The answers all seem tantalizing close and yet not within reach, resulting in an exciting and suspenseful mystery. Our rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Beyond Confusion

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Beyond Confusion by Sheila Simonson. Though a murder mystery is at the center of this novel, that aspect of it is probably its least compelling element. By far more interesting are the characters, even including the murder victim; the Pacific Northwest setting; and the overall environment in which the action takes place. There's a nice balance of humor and drama, and overall this is an enjoyable read … just not a particularly mysterious one. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

When the Devil Doesn't Show

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of When the Devil Doesn't Show by Christine Barber. The murder investigation in this mystery set in Santa Fe, New Mexico is very compelling, a real puzzle for the two strongly developed and appealing detectives in charge … and a puzzle for the reader, too. The story incorporates both the regional and cultural aspects of its setting and more importantly, cleverly integrates them in a seamless manner throughout. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Bolero

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Bolero by Joanie McDonell. The supporting cast of characters is probably the best element of this crime novel, with a (now stereotypical) flawed private investigator as its series lead. The uneven plot takes a somewhat cookie-cutter approach to the prototypical serial killer storyline, though does include a couple of twists. This series would seem to have potential, but this book isn't the promising start it could have been. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Braking Points

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Braking Points by Tammy Kaehler. The cast of characters in this racing-themed mystery are really quite extraordinary. Not surprisingly, the pace of the story is fast, too, quickly moving from one scene to the next, never veering far off-track, as it were. There is a nice balance of suspense and adventure to the story, one that will have readers anxiously anticipating the metaphorical finish line of the book. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Murder Book

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Murder Book by Marshall Thornton. The setting of this murder mystery, Chicago in Fall 1982, provides a strong backdrop to two national events that play a role here — the so-called Tylenol murders and the increasing awareness of the newly identified disease, AIDS — but the primary plot of the story is relatively weakly plotted. An example of a period crime novel in which the "period" is far more accomplished than the "crime". Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins. This is a very engaging mystery, mostly because of the hard-working, compassionate, young woman with a sense of humor as the series lead. Too, there is a wide range of characters of all temperaments, providing a contrasting backdrop of conflict to Lucy's noble task. A good balance of murder mystery, history, and romance makes for an appealing story. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. The graphic novels in this series have been quite entertaining, but the present one is not up the usual standard, mostly because the Lunch Lady isn't able to use — or for some reason has chosen not to use — weapons uniquely adapted from her cafeteria in her quest to identify the technology thief, one of the hallmarks of this series, relying instead on a simple smart phone. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Evil in All its Disguises

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Evil in All its Disguises by Hilary Davidson. This is a suspenseful mystery, one in which the reader is in as much doubt about what's going on as travel writer Lily Moore is. An intriguing aspect of the story is the history of Acapulco as a playground for the stars of Hollywood's Golden Era. It makes for an interesting backdrop to the quandary Lily finds herself in. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

Rage Against the Dying

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman. The plot of this debut novel, which features an insular yet appealing narrator, is very well crafted, and though it includes common elements from other serial killer thrillers, it adds several unexpected — and more importantly unanticipated — twists that make it feel original and fresh. This is definitely an author worth following. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

The Frozen Shroud

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of The Frozen Shroud by Martin Edwards. This is an excellent mystery, exciting and suspenseful. The beautifully rendered Lake District setting makes for an atmospheric backdrop to a murder investigation that spans more than a century, a storyline that turns out to be a strongly plotted and most enjoyable whodunit. Our rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Desperado

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Desperado by Manuel Ramos. The plot in this "mile high noir" unfolds in a reasonably straight-forward manner until about the two-thirds mark, at which point the path forward becomes a little more twisted, adding several layers of complexity, all to the better. Relatively short at just 180 pages, it's an appropriate length for what turns out to be a really good crime novel. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

The Bull Slayer

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of The Bull Slayer by Bruce Macbain. This is an oddly mismatched combination of a murder mystery and a melodramatic family saga. The former develops as a well-constructed, historically rich tale of embezzlement, money laundering, secret initiations, and, of course, murder. The latter is better suited as a subplot for a modern daytime soap opera. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Murder Below Montparnasse

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black. The storyline in this murder mystery is really quite interesting but takes a long time to get started and is wildly overcomplicated once it does, taking the most serpentine path possible to get from point A to point B. It's a journey worth taking, but does get rather tiring along the way. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Her Brother's Keeper

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Her Brother's Keeper by Sara Hoskinson Frommer. This is a captivating, absorbing mystery with a well drawn cast of likeable characters, most especially the lead Joan Spencer, who plays the role of the amateur sleuth here. The storyline is nicely set up and unfolds in a credible manner, and is enjoyable from start to finish. Our rating: 4 of 5 stars.

The Further Adventures of Jack Lime

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of The Further Adventures of Jack Lime by James Leck. These are three entertaining noirish pulp fiction-style stories centered on the life of an in-demand teen PI and rather less so on the respective mystery at hand. He doesn't exactly stumble around, "solving crimes through sheer luck", as one culprit accuses him, but the statement isn't too far wrong. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Parrots Prove Deadly

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Parrots Prove Deadly by Clea Simon. This "pet noir" series features a pet psychic, who is an interesting character, but clearly one more comfortable around animals than people. Though the murder storyline is nicely plotted, it is intended mostly for fans of animal mysteries, those in which the animals not only participate in solving the crime but also chat with the reader about the case. A different kind of cozy, but a cozy nonetheless. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.

Book Club

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Review summary of Book Club by Loren D. Estleman. This short bibliomystery, one of several recently published by Mysterious Press, presents a whodunit, howdunit, and whydunit in a nice, neat package. All the same, it's slightly disappointing that the solution to the crime is more coincidental than calculated, and more suitable for a 2-page minute mystery than a 21-page short story. Our rating: 3 of 5 stars.